We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Comparison of Vitamin Concentrations in Tears and Serum

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 24 Jan 2017
Print article
Image: Only a few microliters of tears are needed to analyze the vitamins in them (Photo courtesy of Sarah Bird, Michigan Technological University).
Image: Only a few microliters of tears are needed to analyze the vitamins in them (Photo courtesy of Sarah Bird, Michigan Technological University).
Results obtained during a recent study suggest that tears could be used as specimens to monitor nutritional health, since they are easily obtained, sufficiently mirror blood serum data, and enhance the speed of deficiency diagnoses.

Investigators at Michigan Technological University obtained matched samples of tears and serum from 15 family pairs, each pair consisting of a four-month-old infant - fed either liquid formula or mother's milk - and one parent.

Several water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins were detected and their levels were quantified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Vitamin concentrations were compared between tears and blood serum for individual subjects, between infants and parents, and against self-reported dietary intakes.

They investigators reported that water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B3 (nicotinamide), B5, B9 and fat-soluble vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) were routinely detected in tears and blood serum while fat-soluble vitamin A (retinol) was detected only in blood serum. Water-soluble vitamin concentrations measured in tears and blood serum of single subjects were comparable, while higher concentrations were measured in infants compared to their parents.

Strong positive correlations were found between tear and blood serum concentrations of vitamin E from infants and parents and vitamin B3 concentrations from parents, while slight positive correlations were detected for infants B3 and parents B1 and B2 concentrations. Correlations between infants and parents were found for the concentrations of B1, B2, B3, and E in tears, and the concentrations of B2, A, and E in blood serum. Stronger vitamin concentration correlations were found between infants and parents for the breast-fed infants, while no significant difference was observed between breast-fed and bottle-fed infants.

"Our goal was to seek the viability of establishing measurable units of tears for nutritional assessments," said first author Dr. Maryam Khaksari, mass spectrometry research specialist at Michigan Tech University. "Your body cannot manufacture vitamins, and vitamins reflect available food sources in your body. That is what makes them good indicators of nutritional health. Since tears contain vitamins, they might have real potential to replace other clinical tests."

The study was published in the December 23, 2016, online edition of the journal Experimental Eye Research.

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
HLX
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
Systemic Autoimmune Testing Assay
BioPlex 2200 ANA Screen with MDSS

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.